Saturday Night's Mic Toss/Assistance Requested

[Saltzy]

I posted this on the thread dedicated to the Vegas residency(as well as on the other main GnR message board), but think this deserves it's own thread here as well.

My buddies and I flew out to Vegas this weekend and went to the Saturday night show. I've been to like 10 GnR shows, all in the NYC area previously. I'll give the band credit. They really brought it. 3 plus hours. Lot of intensity. Sounded really good, although if I'm being totally honest Axl sounded better as the concert went on. November Rain from the suspended piano 8' above my head was just ridiculous.

At the end of the show Axl tosses the mic into the crowd like he always does. Every single show I have ever been to it has been my dream to grab it. It lands like 10 feet away from my friend and I. The guy standing next to us picks it up and my buddy immediatly says "I'll give you $100 for that right now." Amazingly the guy says '"Sure". He gives it to us. We have the fucking thing. We are jubiliant. We are extatic. 5 seconds later security walks over and orders us to give him the mic back.

I have seen Axl toss the mic at EVERY show I have been to, and I have never seen security ask for it back. Complete and utter fucking bullshit.

Why throw the fucking thing into the crowd and cause a goddamn riot if you are just gonna ask for it back? Forget about the thing breaking or getting stepped on. The guy gave us our $100 back, but it ruined what would have been the single greatest concert experience of my life.

Here's the bottom line, at least from my perspective. If Axl wants to come out at midnight and play until 3AM, that's fine by me. That's how rock n' roll is supposed to be. The hardcore sawdust and beer, late as fuck, rock music culture that I love and is one of the core reasons why I love Axl and GnR. Basically maintaining that image is the only thing he apparently DOES give a fuck about. It what Axl prides himself on.

You can't have it both ways though. It's either balls to the wall rock n' roll, or it's corporate money making. Throwing a mic into a crowd at 3AM, only to ask for it back is basically 180 degrees from what Axl and GnR stand for.

I understand Axl may not know they are confiscating the mic after he tosses it, but he should. It's his image and good name they are fucking with when pull this shit with his biggest fans.

Anyway, I know it's a serious long shot, but I was hoping some of you guys could post what happened to us on the places known to be read by members of the band. I'm positive there is video of security taking it from us out there somewhere if proof was required that we had it, and it was taken away from us by security.

I know I'm never gonna be that close to nabbing the mic again, and if I don't at least try and inform Axl/GnR/The GnR Team about how my friend and I had our Holy Grail taken away from us on Saturday night I'll never be able to live with myself.

Thanks in advance for whatever assistance we get.

[ColdHeartBreaker]

It's just a mic.

[Nosaj Thing]

That's really fucked up bro. I'm sorry for you and your friends.

[Saltzy]

It's just a mic.

Orrrrr, it's a something my friend and I have dreamed about for close to 20 years, had happen, and had taken away from us by some fat fuck security jerkoff that had no right taking it.

[volcano62]

So basically security just stole your mic? Fuck them I would make a police report

[Saltzy]

So basically security just stole your mic? Fuck them I would make a police report

After a few days of research this apparently has been going down since the 2006 shows at The Joint. Security knows what the thing is worth (both in terms of $ and sexual favors from roadies) and they outwardly fuck people over by taking it from them even though they have no right to do it, and that the band intends for a fan to have it.

IF I would have known on Saturday what I know now there is NO WAY we would have given it back, but when you are in the moment and a security guard at a casino asks you for something, you do it.

[SONOFABITCH]

FYI - I hadn't mention this but the mic toss on 11/7/12 Axl threw it to an area where not too many people were at. The security guard walked up to the guy, shook his hand, and then took the mic and left the guy with the only the foam cover of the mic. I didn't mention it because I am not sure if the guy got the mic back or not - or why it happened. Bottom line is don't bother tossing it to the crowd unless they get to keep it.

Although I know some people have kept the mic. If you catch it, stick it under your shirt and make for exits in a hurry.

Edited November 14, 2012 by SONOFABITCH

[Gunner55]

That's fucked!

I was at the Minneapolis show last November. A guy caught it way ahead of me, but he booked it out and was going nuts that he caught it (nice to see a REAL fan caught it that night). He stopped at the back of the pit and wash just in awe. Security approached him and congratulated the guy and actually walked with him and his buddy towards the exit to make sure nobody tried to fuck it up for him. Nothing indicated they wanted it back.

Sucks to hear of your loss. I'd be outright pissed too, I'd LOVE to get my hands on one.

[Saltzy]

FYI - I hadn't mention this but the mic toss on 11/7/12 Axl threw it to an area where not too many people were at. The security guard walked up to the guy, shook his hand, and then took the mic and left the guy with the only the foam cover of the mic. I didn't mention it because I am not sure if the guy got the mic back or not - or why it happened. Bottom line is don't bother tossing it to the crowd unless they get to keep it.

Although I know some people have kept the mic. If you catch it, stick it under your shirt and make for exits in a hurry.

I can assure you, he did not. And we didn't even get to keep the mic cover.

Like I said, I realize this crusade is a long, LONG shot, but if I don't at least try I won't be able to live with myself.

Trust me. If if happens again I won't make the same mistake of standing around with it.

[Coma16]

Shady dealings from the security. Should be reported...

Would have really sucked had you guys have caught it yourselves...

[Chris 55]

So basically security just stole your mic? Fuck them I would make a police report

Saying what?

[volcano62]

So basically security just stole your mic? Fuck them I would make a police report

Saying what?

They were robbed..last time I checked that is a crime.

[Saltzy]

Shady dealings from the security. Should be reported...

Would have really sucked had you guys have caught it yourselves...

I just called up The Joint and left a message with the Head of Security.

Nothing is going to come of it I'm sure, but I want them to at least know their team is stealing from their customers. Not to mention pissing on lifelong dreams of mine.

[ColdHeartBreaker]

It's just a mic.

Orrrrr, it's a something my friend and I have dreamed about for close to 20 years, had happen, and had taken away from us by some fat fuck security jerkoff that had no right taking it.

It's easier meeting the band at some venues. I wouldn't know what to do with a mic? Put it on display and look at it every now and then.

Most security dudes are assholes, this is no revelation.

Edited November 14, 2012 by ColdHeartBreaker

[RussTCB]

It's not directly related to your story, but at the 11/07 show my buddy had some sort of HUGE problem with security. I wasn't there for it but my buddy is pretty damn passive and he was LIVID over what happened. For what it's worth, he contacted the head of security that night. They took a statement from him that night, then called him the next day to go over some details again because they said they were going to handle it. So at least from that experience, it sounds like contacting security might get you somewhere.

[AxlRose14]

That's really fucked up bro. I'm sorry for you and your friends.

You forgot to blame Axl

[gnrfan2007]

The security guard probably didn't know any *better* ...

The security guard may have been acting in accord with what the crew and/or promoters instructed him to because those mics are expensive. If it were huge arena or outdoor concert, they may not care for the mic. But for a small venue, a copy thousand dollars for a mic is enough to pay for salary of several workers.

Maybe Axl will hear of your plight and do something about it.

[SONOFABITCH]

It's not directly related to your story, but at the 11/07 show my buddy had some sort of HUGE problem with security. I wasn't there for it but my buddy is pretty damn passive and he was LIVID over what happened. For what it's worth, he contacted the head of security that night. They took a statement from him that night, then called him the next day to go over some details again because they said they were going to handle it. So at least from that experience, it sounds like contacting security might get you somewhere.

What happened?

[Saltzy]

It's just a mic.

Orrrrr, it's a something my friend and I have dreamed about for close to 20 years, had happen, and had taken away from us by some fat fuck security jerkoff that had no right taking it.

It's easier meeting the band at some venues. I wouldn't know what to do with a mic? Put it on display and look at it every now and then.

Most security dudes are assholes, this is no revelation.

Yeah, see I am a memorabilia FREAK. Mostly sports stuff, but this would have been my/our rock n' roll Holy Grail. GnR is one of my favorite bands of all time, and for my friend, forget it. I don't even think he likes any other bands other than GnR.

Within 5 seconds of possessing it I had grand, glorious ideas. Picture a shadow box with pics of the show and the ticket stubs. I assure you, it wasn't going to just sit in a drawer somewhere.

Honestly, it's mainly that an experience that has been dreamed about and joked around about since my college dorm room actually happened, and at a fucking Saturday Night show in Vegas no less, and was taken away from us by some guy that couldn't give a fuck about the significance of it.

In the grand scheme of life is this the biggest event that has ever happened? Um, far from it. One of the reasons for the trip was because my mom was just diagnosed with a terminal brain disease, and I just needed to get away for a few days and not think about it.

For me personally, this was/is a pretty bitter pill tio swallow right now. I kinda needed a fucking break, and this guy took it from my friend and I so he could make a few bucks or get a blowjob from a roadie.

Edited November 14, 2012 by Saltzy

[SONOFABITCH]

I find it hard to believe Security would be brazen enough to steal the mics every night...

[The Real McCoy]

At the Wilkes-Barre show last year, the girl who caught it got to keep it. I saw her in the concourse with it as I was leaving.

[AxlisOld]

At the Everett 2006 show Axl gave out his mic stand during Paradise City, guy next to me got it. Security came over and grabbed it from him, Axl could be heard saying "Oh what the fuck" in the front row, ran to the side of the stage and grabbed it from security and gave it to the guy again, looked over at security, and smiled.

[Saltzy]

At the Everett 2006 show Axl gave out his mic stand during Paradise City, guy next to me got it. Security came over and grabbed it from him, Axl could be heard saying "Oh what the fuck" in the front row, ran to the side of the stage and grabbed it from security and gave it to the guy again, looked over at security, and smiled.

I just don't get how after Axl has ended the show the exact same way for years and years this is still something that is still such a hit or miss thing with security at these venues.

At this point I'm not sure I understand why when they are working out the contract Axl, or someone on the team doesn't say, "OK, at the end of EVERY SHOW Axl is going to say and do the folllowing. First, the band is gonna play Paradise City. About 30 secomds into it he is gonna toss a whistle into the crowd. Let whoever grabs it, keep it. Then, at the end of the song/show he is gonna scream "Good.....Fucking.....Night!!!", afterwhich he is gonna toss the mic into the crowd. It's part of the show. Let the fan that catches it, keep that too. If we find out you are taking it from our paying fans for your own personal gain Axl is not gonna be happy."

Then just inform security what the deal is, and have them leave the person that gets it the fuck alone.

I guess I could understand if it was a one off, one night show or something but when it's the band's 6th show in 2 weeks it's pretty clear that the security at The Joint are either complete idiots, thiefs, or some combination of the above.

Edited November 14, 2012 by Saltzy

[RussTCB]

It's not directly related to your story, but at the 11/07 show my buddy had some sort of HUGE problem with security. I wasn't there for it but my buddy is pretty damn passive and he was LIVID over what happened. For what it's worth, he contacted the head of security that night. They took a statement from him that night, then called him the next day to go over some details again because they said they were going to handle it. So at least from that experience, it sounds like contacting security might get you somewhere.

What happened?

According to my buddy, a security guard mistook him for someone who'd been thrown out of the show earlier in the night. They had a verbal altercation that led to the guard getting physical with my buddy. This was after the show and the house lights were already up. My buddy was down on the main floor waiting for us to come down from the balcony so I didn't see it go down. But according to my buddy, after the guard got physical another guard came over to pull him off my buddy and was yelling "HEY! HEY! HEY! This is NOT the guy we threw out! Besides, who the fuck sneaks back into a show AFTER it's over??".

He says that the first guard never apologized or anything, he just looked over the shoulder of the second guard and said "Well you need to get the fuck out of here anyways". Right about then was when we came down the stairs and heard what happened.

[SONOFABITCH]

There was a real idiot security guard around the sound board area telling people not stand around it even though it wasn't roped off. The security there are a bunch of dopes. However they never said anything about me recording so that is a major plus.

But yes, I have seen in the past people show off pics of the mics they caught so definately sometimes they are kept. Like I said if you catch one the best thing to do is shove in your pants and leave ASAP.